Reversing and stop control for electric motors



Aug. 16, 1949. B. A. BUSS REVERSING AND STOP CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed April 27, 1.944

IN V EN TOR. B ALVIN BUSS Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIN G AND STOP CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS Application April 27, 1944, Serial No. 532,935

22 Claims. (Cl. 318265) This invention relates to means for automatically positioning and stopping various motordriven elements, and is here illustrated as embodied in means for stopping a motor-driven cylinder in or close to a definite position with respect to a stationary shell surrounding the cylinder.

In certain types of machines, such as commercial washing machines, a cylinder rotatable within a stationary shell is used having an opening for the introduction and removal of the load, e. g., clothes to be washed. A similar opening is pro vided in the stationary shell and both openings are kept closed by doors during normal operation of the machine. As it is necessary to have the doors in register for unloading or loading the cylinder when the machine is at rest, devices have been designed for the purpose of stopping the machine at a moment when the doors are approximately in register.

As the cylinder is only partly filled by its load and generally has ribs, it is desirable to have the cylinder come to a stop immediately following its turning movement in that direction which brings the load to the front of the machine where it can be easily reached for unloading.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved control means for stopping a motordriven element which is adapted to work under varying conditions, such as the rotating cylinder of a washing machine, within a particular and limited angular range.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for stopping a power-driven element within a particular and limited angular range by cutting off the power as the element turns into this range, applying reversing power if and as often as the element should pass beyond the limits of said particular and. angular range.

A further ob'oct of the invention is to provide means for stopping a power-driven element within a particular and limited angular range by cutting off the power as the element turns into this range, applying a brake while the element, impelled by inertia. traverses the range, and applying reversing power if and as often as the element should pass beyond the limits of said angular range.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for stopping a motor-driven, reversibly rotatable element within a particular and limited angular range which will cause the element to oscillate back and forth through said range and a relatively small distance therebeyond, and vhich causes the movements outside of said range in one direction to be subject to the drag or action of a brake applied to the motor and in the opposite direction to be free from any braking action.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a compact unitary assembly of devices for automatically controlling the application of power to the motor in either direction of rotation and the release of the brake, with only a single manually operable member for starting and stopping the operation of the devices constituting the assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a device for stopping a reversible notor-driven cylinder, two circuits, each which has a switch which is so constructed that it tends to maintain itself in open position, and in which the switches are spaced apart a distance equal to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of the cylinder and are alternatively closable by a single switch-closing member which moves to close one or the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a device for stopping a reversible motor-driven cylinder, a brake-releasing circuit containing a switch which is operable by and which preferably forms a structural unit with one of the reversing means, e. g. reversing relays.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a device for stopping a cylinder driven by a reversible motor whose power supply is controlled by electromagnetic reversing relays, a brake-releasing circuit containing two switches in series, one of which forms a part of the armature of one of the reversing relays and the other of which is mechanically interlocked with a stop switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating element for a switch-closing member which will engage said member when the cylinder enters the permissible stopping range when rotating in a particular direction, and push said member to the other end of the permissible range, holding it there for a definite proportion of a revolution of a cylinder beyond the stopping Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows in a diagrammatic manner and by way of example one embodiment of the invention as applied to a washin machine; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, on a larger scale, of the switch-closing member and the actuating ,l 9 elwc il itacttflfof thejmr ter switchgA m'akescontact with a'fixe'dl c'pntactT55 cohnected by a lead t with one terminaljo f he fbrjake releasing solenoid anywnmeeuer teiminal 'has a connection 5? suitable construction, adapted to be released means of a solenoid 2| when the latter is ener gized. The brake creates a drag which to stop the cylinder 13 but which is not sufiiciently powerful to overcome the starting torqiife ottie motor. In the example shown, the brakegijis indicated as being a friction bra ke and as com-- prising two discs 18 and 19, thedi'sc it being se cured to the shaft 22 of the motor i'i and the disc l9 being slidably mounted on said sinner when the solenoid 2 i Thefreveisiblefl A spring 23 urges the disc {9 against the disc 58 1S notj ie gizeq,

r ll], shown in the drawing as a"three piiasemotorjis connectedto a current source fi l, g5 and 26, under the control oii either 21 25523, the switch?! heswitch128 foririihh tl'iefarriiature of a second relay 2'! andjzfi provide for a current j Hfinj opposite phases, and

irfg as 3 poleswitchestheycoiild be used in the ,form of 2 pole switches levenif the motor is a three-phase motor "like the one shown in the example, r H I Ati'ming motor 3 atesfashaft 32 upon which ,aldisc i-it carryingja contact isegment as isfixed. Th'eoont aotf segment t'tj extends over about half e r umieai. half thefcircunii eratingsrvithf the .d1scf33 prefrablya little less than n'c e, psi th e disc '33, and coop- 7 r v e re'tyvolcontactbrushes 35 an'd136. Theitirriirigfiriotore [receives its ourrent from a 'supplyllifietfiffi,' which is shown ii1 the diagramot Fig "1"as'ase'paratecurrent jsouree btt wr ic could bebrianched off from the supply 1iI 1ie Z4, 25,i25. ,The'supplyterminal 3i 'isfcon'riecte'd throughfa lead ,49 to two movable contacts 319, lib ?aB pble master switch A. The movable contact i'fltdgetherwiththe fixed contacts w ith. whi ch;.it cooperates will be referred v toiherei'n'after as the fstop 'switchfi for reasons i-Wh Q flWfll a pe r h e f fi 1. 31 6 The master s-witch"A sfr'nan'ually operable as a whole by meansegame 42. V r

Withthemasterjswitch'Ain the position shown in full lines'jwhi h isthe positioniornormal op- Jeration of the machine ja ic'ircuit for the timing motor 3| 'is established: leading from the supply terminal 31 overthej lead i and the movable stop switch contact'dfito a fixedjcontacttt of this stop switch and from there overa lead it to one'terminalfifi ofthe'timing motor sL whose vother terminalflfi is connected by leads 67, 28 to the 'supply teiminalfjtd The contact segment 34hasfla connection 59ftojthe shaft 32,, which in turn isconnected meansjof a lead 5! to the lead. The bru'sh*35 is connected by a lead to the coil ZB of the-relay 29 and the brush 35 by a. l oi he" Q 1I 9; of e relay A common return lead ;54, conn'ected by meansoi the lead!!! to the s'upplyterminaltB, is provided 9 ,"3ll'. The movable con- "4 to the supply terminal 38 via the lead 68. It will be seen that the timing motor 3| will continuously rotate during the time the switch A is in the running position and will bring the contact segment 34 intermittently in contact with the two contact brushes 35 3 6 Thus the coils 29' and ct ofthe relays zsarid ec are intermittently energized, and when energized will operate their respective armatures 21 and 28 and thereby cause alternating rotation in forward and reverse direction of themotor i? as well as of the cylinder T5 of the washing machine. The forward relay 29 will cause rotation of the cylinder i5 in ,jthedire'ctionindicated in Figure l by the arrow if tarid the freverse relay 3E will cause rotation in the opposite dire ction. The switches 22 of the rel'ays't eand 39, respectively, biased to open position, so that when both of the relays maria 36 are deenergized, the motor i? is disconnected fromthe current source 23 35,

ThemasterfswitchA hasathird ta 1 w th o ms r of 5 11,. finc'ludes'ja ithfsa whichji the xampws'ii forms'afpart of the iorward relay soth'atthe switch 58 is closed at the same time the twitch i "is closed when the latter-is'operated ic y'trie coil 29'. The switch 58 (whi ch, like the s sivii zhi i i lsi eii i ei 7 i sw i' e i s Q1 t r i e sf nji e jPQSl- "illlb e'de iribeid prese'ntly. 11

sh w is connected a H g coh jectedb a w retsto the rey is relay coiltt, ach ofth twocontaot pairs 63 and t iffi fo N tute I n' whioh 'is soconistruotedas to tritlto 'inaintain itself in opsn'pois mov'ably mountoj the'machine,inithe y mounted at ll onthe closing member Pt airwish. w and the contact pair or s other end; position. In aid tr he! switch "me h r s "lee r ffi' riism t i ei'eo The movable eontacts $3 and fi (or elements me- (it 1d with them) are arrange tact kepi V *e1osed,'as shown in"Fi 1.

, At its inner end the switch-closing memberm 'jrol ler 'lit. Thefswitfch closing i i t edlir j uqhie fienfifthet .s t er M qer in enil nf t ated n f the *ba ward direction, as will' be' de- 1 q i ii mu ee -vi a ieee r such fie ice tr ti e i a r ith-sc s n me Shown 75 in the drawing "(see particularly Fig; '2) being composed of two parts and 10" pivotally joined at 15. The-inner part 10" which carries the roller 73 has an extension 16 and the outer part 10' has an extension '11, these two abutting extensions being normally kept in contact by a spring 18.

The switch-closing member 10 is operable by an actuating element 14 which participates in the reversible rotation of the cylinder [3. As an example for such an actuating element I have shown in the drawing a segment-shaped cam 14 which is attached to the end of the cylinder shaft l6 and comprises as active parts a nose 14' at its forward end and a face 14 of a predetermined length.

It has been described before that with the master switch A in the running position the contact segment 34 supplies periodically the two reversing relays 29 and 30 with current, causing thereby alternate operation of the 3-pole switches 21 and 28 which control the phases of the power supply to the motor ll. Thus the direction of the rotation of the motor I! is reversed at regular intervals. Because the switch 39, maintains a connection between lead 56 and the supply terminal 3? over the line 49, the solenoid 2| is energized and the brake 20 is kept released. During every revolution in the forward direction of the cylinder 13 the nose 14 of the actuating element 14 will move the switch lever 10 from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, causing thereby the contact pair 62, 63 to open and the contact pair 64, to close. When rotating in the reverse direction, the

face 14" of the actuating element 14 will ride over the roller 13 of the switch-closing member 50 without opening the contact pair 62, 63, which is normally kept closed by the switch-closing member 18 under the action of the spring 12. The opening or closing of the contact pairs 62, 63 and 64, 65 during the normal operation of the machine (running position of the switch A) is, however, of no consequence to the control of the machine, since the fixed contact 61 to which the movable contacts 63 and 64 are connected, is open when the switch 40 is in non-stopping position.

To stop the machine, the master switch A is pulled up by means of the handle 42. This brings the movable switch elements 39, 40, 4| into the 4 positions shown in dotted lines. The switch element 39 is now inactive. The switch 40 engages the fixed contact point 61, establishing thereby a connection between the supply terminal 31 and the movable contacts 63, 64 of the switches 62, I53 and 64, 65 over the leads 49 and 66. The movable element 4| engages the fixed contact point l9, connecting thereby the brake-release solenoid 2! with the switch 58 by means of the wires 55 and 69.

Supposing the master switch A is pulled up and accordingly the stop switch 40 is moved to motor-stopping position, when the cylinder I3 is revolving in the forward direction and cam 14 is not in contact with roller 13, the cylinder will continue its forward rotation until the nose 14 of the cam 14 engages the roller 13 of the switchclosing member 19. During this time the coil 29 of the forward'relay 29 is kept energized over a circuit extending from the supply terminal 3'l over the lead 49, the stop switch 49, contact 61, lead 66, the switch 63, 62, the lead 6|, the coil 29, and the leads 54 and 48 to the other supply terminal 38. The energized coil 29' keeps the switch 21 as well as the switch 58, 59 closed, so

that the motor 1 l is connected to the power supply 24, 25, 26 in the forward phase, and, further, a circuit is established which keeps the brake 2:] released. This latter circuit extends from the supply terminal Sl over the lead 49, the stop switch it, El, the lead 66, the switch 63, 62, the leads 8i and G5, the switch 59, 58, the lead 69, the switch '29, ll, the lead 55, the solenoid 2|, and the leads 5? and 48 to the other supply terminal 33. When the nose 14 of the cam 14 engages the roller if; of the switch-closing member i5, pushing this member about its pivot H, the switch 52, 63 opens, interrupting thereby both circuits just described with the consequence that the motor ii is cut oil from its power supply and the solenoid 22 is deenergized, thus allowing the brake to apply braking action to the motor H. The momentum of the cylinder l3 and its load, however, carries the cylinder some distance further, and, depending upon the magnitude of the momentum developed by the more or less heavily laden cylinder, one of the two following cases will happen:

(a) The inertia of the cylinder is only large enough to move the cylinder through an angle which is smaller than the angular range. This range is determined by the location of the two switches and 6 5, 5.2, which act as limiting stops between which the switch-closing member '59 may swing. In this case the cylinder comes to a stop immediately with its door within the permissible stopping range and in register with the door E2 of the outer shell Id. The switchclosing member in is held in an intermediate position between the two switches 62, E3 and 64, 65, both being open.

(2)) If the inertia of the cylinder is large enough to overcome the resistance of the brake 2d to such an extent that the cam 'l l pushes the switch-closing member '19 into the other end position (shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines) in which it closes the contact pair a circuit for the reverse relay is established, but no circuit is completed for the brake-release solenoid The circuit for the reverse relay 36 extends from the terminal over the lead 49, the stop switch 6'5, the lead the switch 35, the lead the coil Sit, and over the leads 5 and 48 to the terminal Therefore, as the cylinder i 3 passes beyond the limits of the angular range, the motor ll is thrown in reverse while the brake 28 is still applied. The reversed motor, whose starting torque is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the brake, brings the cylinder (together with the cam it) back within the range and possibly again beyond that range. Simul taneously therewith the switch-closing member 56 is returned by the spring 2 to the position shown in Fig. l in which it closes the switch G3 which controls the forward relay 253 and the brake-releasing solenoid 25. Thus the cylinder swings back and forth through the range and a short distance beyond that range. Whenever the cam ill swings on beyond the range and in the forward direction, the front portion of the face it of the cam M is ridin upon the roller '53, keeping the switch 54, closed. During the swinging back of the cam i i, the switch is still kept closed until the cam has cleared the roller 's' Then the switch-closing lever "it moves to the position in which it closes the switch 62, 53, again starting the cylinder forward. This swinging back and forth of the cylinder is around its registering position continues until the inertia of the cylinder is exhausted, whereupon the latter U ing door has passed over a substantial part of a full revolution.

4. A stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, an electro motor for rotating said cylinder, reversing means for said motor, and a device for stopping said cylinder within a permissible angular range, said device comprising means to initiate stopping, a control element biased in one direction to cause rotation of said cylinder in the forward direction when stopping is initiated, a cam forming a part of a circle so placed on the cylinder axis in relation to the cylinder door that its forward end will engage said element when said cylinder door enters said permissible stopping range coming up from below, the forward edge of said cam being adapted to push said element to a position to initiate reversing when the end of the permissible stopping range is reached, and the face of said cam being of such length as to hold the reversing connection engaged for a definite proportion of a revolution of said cylinder beyond the door registering position.

5. In combination, a rotatable element, a motor for driving said element, a brake for said element and said motor, said brake being biased to braking position, mechanism including relay means for controlling the connections of said motor to cause periodic reversals in the direction of rotation of said motor, a solenoid for holding said brake in releasing position, switch means for controlling said solenoid, and other manually operable switch means responsive to the angular position of said rotatable element for controlling said relay means, said relay means including a switch for closing an energizing circuit for said solenoid, said motor having a starting torque suiiicient to overcome the braking action of said brake.

6. In combination, a reversible motor, a power supply and a brake for said motor, a cylinder having substantial but indefinite inertia rotatable by said motor and a device for stopping said cylinder within a limited angular range, said device comprising means for cutting oif the power supply to said motor as the cylinder turns into said angular range, means adapted to drive said motor in reverse as said cylinder passes beyond the limits of said angular range until it reenters this range, and means for applying said brake while the cylinder traverses said angular range impelled by inertia as well as while the cylinder is moving beyond the angular range with the motor reversed, said motor having a starting torque sufficient to overcome the braking action of said brake.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a sta tionary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, a power supply line, an electro-motor for rotating said cylinder in said shell, reversing means for said motor comprising two electro-magnetic relays each having a coil and an armature and each being adapted to cause rotation of said motor in one of two op" posite directions, a device for stopping said cylinder with its door within predetermined limits, said device comprising a stop switch, two pairs of contacts, each pair having a connection to one of said relay coils and both pair being connectable to the power supply line through said stop switch, a contact-closing member pivotally mounted on a stationary support and movable be tween said two contact pairs when in one or the other of it end positions, actuating means movable in conjunction with said cylinder for moving said member between said end positions, said end positions being arranged at a distance corresponding to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder, means for holding one of said contact pairs closed by said member while said member is not actuated by said actuating means, a normally applied brake for said motor, electric releasing means for said brake, and a circuit including said stop switch, said brake releasing means, the contact pair normally kept closed by said contact-closing member, and two further switches, the one forming part of the armature of the reversing relay connected to the last mentioned contact pair and the other bein mechanically interlocked with said stop switch for opening or closing said circuit in unison with said stop switch, said electro-motor having a starting torque suificient to overcome the braking action of said brake.

8. A stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, an electric motor driving said cylinder, a circuit causing said motor to rotate in one direction, a second circuit causing said motor to rotate in the reverse direction, electromagnetic relays in each circuit, a switch for initiating stopping of the cylinder within a predetermined angular range, a normally open circuited pair of contacts in each of the circuits controlling said electromagnetic relays, a member for closing said contacts mounted on a stationary pivot between said contact pairs, lever actuating means movable in conjunction with the rotation of said cylinder for swinging said member between its two end positions in either of which it closes one or the other of said contacts, said contact pairs being disposed at a distance from each other which corresponds to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder.

9. A stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, an electric motor driving said cylinder, a circuit causing said motor to rotate in one direction, a second circuit causing said motor to rotate in the reverse direc tion, electromagnetic relays in each circuit, a switch for initiating stopping of the cylinder within a predetermined angular range, a normally open circuited pair of contacts in each of the circuits controlling said electromagnetic relays, a member for closing said contacts mounted on a stationary pivot between said contact pairs, lever actuating means movable in conjunction with the rotation of said cylinder for swinging said member between its two end positions in either of which it closes one or the other of said contacts, said contact pairs being disposed at a distance from each other which corresponds to relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder, and means for holding one of said contact pairs closed by said member when said member is not actuated by said actuating means.

10. A stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, an electric motor driving said cylinder, a circuit causing said motor to rotate in one direction, a second circuit causing said motor to rotate in the reverse direction, electromagnetic relays in each circuit, a switch for initiating stopping of the cylinder within a predetermined angular range, a normally open circuited pair of contacts in each of: the circuit controlling said electromagnetic relays, a member for closing said contacts mounted on a stationary pivot between said contact pairs, lever actuating means movable in conjunction with the rotation of said cylinder for swinging said member between it two end positions in either of which it closes one or the other of said contacts, said contaot'pairs being disposed at a distance from each other which correspond to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder, and means for holding one of said contact pairs closed by said member when said member is not actuated by said actuating means, a normally applied brake for said motor, electric means for releasing said brake, a circuit including said switch for initiating stopping of the member, said brake releasing means, andv said contact pair being normally kept closed by said member and a further switch form-mg par-tel the reversing relay connected to the last mentioned contact pair. a a

11. In combination, a rotatable. member, a motor for rotating-said member, two electromagnetic relays for driving, respectively, said motor in a forward direction and in reverse, a brake normally applied to said motor, electric means for releasing said brake, a control circuit for said electromagnetic relays, a manually operated stop switch in said control circuit, a normally closed brake releasing circuit controlled by said stop switch, a second brake, releasing'circuit including a second switch operable bycne .of said reversing relay and a third switch: mechanically interlocked with said manually operated switch so that the second circuitcan be established only if a particular electromagneticrelay is in action. g 1

12. In combination, a rotatableelement, a motor for driving said element, a brake for said element and said motor, said brake being biased to braking position, a pair of relay-actuated switches adapted-to rbe alternately energized to cause rotation of said motor first in, one direc tion then in the reverse direction, a solenoid adapted to hold said brake in released position, manually operableswi-tch means in a circuit which includes said brake solenoid, .a pair of switch elements, each controlling one of'said relay switches after the manualswitch is open-ed, means responsive to the angular position of. said rotatable element for closing one or the other of said switch elements, a'sw-itch. in a second cirswitches adapted to be alternatelyenergized to cause rotationof said motor, first in onedirectiion then in the reverse direction, a solenoid; adapted to hold said brake in released position, manually operable switch means in a circuit which includes said brake solenoid, a pair of switchelements some distance apart, each switch element controlling one of said relay switche s after the manual switch is opened, means responsive to the angular position of said rotatable element for closing one or the other of said, switch, elements when the rotatableelernent hascarried'said last means from one switch elementlto the other, a switch in asecond circuit for energizing the-brake releasing solenoid closed by, one of said relay switches, the motor havinga starting. torque able to overcome the brake torque even though the second circuit'is open. 7

14. In combination, av rotatable element, a motor for driving said elementra brake for said element and said motor having: asmaller torque.

than that of themotor in starting, said brake being biased to braking position, mechanism includingmotive means and a pair of relay switches for causing said motor to rotate first in'one direction then in the other direction, a solenoid for holding said brake in released position, a master switch for controlling said motor means and said solenoid, switch means responsive to the angular position of said rotatable element for controlling the energization of said relay switches, and means responsive to a certain one of said relay switches for connecting said solenoid in circuit when said master switch is in position to open circuit said motor.

15. In a washing machine, a stationary shell, a motor driven cylinder mounted in said shell for rotation in two directions, a door in said cylinder, a device designed to bring said cylinder to rest with the door lying within a predetermined range only when the cylinder door is moving in one direction, means to put said device into operation, a unitary assembly of the electric control means adapted to turn said motor in either of two directions, a single pivoted element and said unitary assembly for operating one or the other of said control elements, a cam forming a segment of a circle carried by said cylinder engagingsaid pivoted element in such a manner that, if the door on the cylinder is'movin-g in the wrong direction through the angular range when the device is put into operation, the door must proceed in the wrong direction through a substantial part of the full revolution before the cam allows the cylinder to be reversed and the door is brought back to the predetermined angular range.

16. In combination with a rotatable member, a motor for rotating said member, two electromagnetic relays ior driving said motor in two directions, a brake having a smaller torque than that which the motor exerts in starting, electric means for releasing the brake, means for automatically actuating one or the other of thetwo relays at fixed intervals, a multiple manual switch which transfers control of rotation to another device. for stopping the member in a particular angular position, one element of the switch interrupting the normal circuit to the solenoid, another element of the switch closing a second circuit to the solenoid which includes a single switch which is operated by only one of said reversing relays so that the motorwill operate against the brake when turning in one direction and with the brake released when turning in the other direction.

17. In combination, an electric motor, a power supply for the motor, a first switch supplying saidmotor with current to rotate in one direction, a second switch supplying said motor with'current to, rotate in the opposite direction, on element rotated by said motor, means engaged by said element when entering a predetermined angular range for cutting off both switches and closing one or the other of said switches when the element has passed through the predetermined angular range to change the direction of rotation of the element to move it back into the angular range whenever it leaves that range.

18. A stationary shell, '2, cylinder having an opening in its side mounted in said shell, amotor capable of rotating saidcylinder in two directions, a plurality of switching means for supplying power to the motor to-rotate the cylinder in either of two directions, a stop initiating button enabling said switching means to control the motor, a device engaged by. the rotating cylinder when the opening enters a predetermined angular range to cut off power from the motor and to actuate one or the other of said switching means when the opening is carried by inertia of the cylinder beyond said angular range in either direction to turn the cylinder back into the angular range.

19. In combination with a rotatable member, a motor for rotating said member, two electromagnetic relays respectively supplying current to drive the motor forward or backward, a normally applied brake tending to stop the rotation of said motor, electrical means for releasing said brake, a switch for initiating the stopping of the rotation of said member, a device engaged by said rotatable member when entering a predetermined angular range which cuts the motor current, cuts the current to the electrical means for releasing the brake, and actuates one or the other of said electro-magnetic relays when the rotatable member leaves the predetermined angular range in either direction to turn it back into said range.

20. In a machine of the class described, a stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, a power supply line, an electro-motor for rotating said cylinder in said shell, reversing means for said motor comprising two electro-magnetic relays each having a coil and an armature and each being adapted to cause rotation of said motor in one of two opposite directions, a device for stopping said cylinder with its door located within a predetermined angular range said device comprising a switch for initiating stopping, two pairs of contacts, each pair having a connection to one of the said electro-magnetic relay coils and both pairs being connectable to the power supply line through said switch for initiating stopping, a contact-closing member pivotally mounted on a stationary support and movable between said two contact pairs so as to close one or the other of these contact pairs when in one or the other of its end positions, actuating means movable in conjunction with said cylinder for moving said contact closing member between said end positions, said end positions being arranged at a distance corresponding to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder, means for holding one of said contact pairs closed by said contact closing member while said member is not actuated by said actuating means, a normally applied brake for said motor, electric releasin means for said brake, and a circuit including said initiating switch, said brake releasing means, said contact pair kept closed by said contact-closing member, and a further switch forming part of the armature of the reversing relay connected to the last mentioned contact pair.

21. In a machine of the class described, a stationary shell, a cylinder rotatable in said shell, a door in said cylinder, a power supply line, an electric motor for rotating said cylinder in said shell,

reversing means for said motor comprising two electro -magnetic relays each having a coil and an armature and each being adapted to cause rotation of said motor in one of two opposite directions, a device for stopping said cylinder with its door located in the predetermined angular range, said device comprising a switch for initiating stopping, two pairs of contacts, each pair having a connection to one of-said relay coils and both pairs being connectable to the power supply line through said switch for initiating stopping, a contact-closing member pivotally mounted on a stationary support and movable between said two contact pairs when in one or the other of its end positions, actuating means movable in conjunction with said cylinder for moving said contact-closing member between said end positions, said end positions being arranged at a distance corresponding to a relatively small fraction of a full revolution of said cylinder, means for holding one of said contact pairs closed by said contact closing member while said member is not actuated by said actuating means, a normally applied brake for said motor, electric releasing means for said brake, and another circuit controlled by said initiating switch and including said brake releasing means, the contact pair normally kept closed by said contact closing member, and two further switches, the one switch forming part of the armature of the reversing relay connected to the last mentioned contact pair and the other switch being mechanically interlocked with said initiating switch for opening or closing said circuit in unison with said initiating switch.

22. In an angular positioning device for a cylinder, in combination, a reversible electric motor, a power supply, a normally applied brake for said motor which is insufiicient to prevent the motor from starting, a solenoid to hold said brake in released position, a cylinder rotatable by said motor, controls for supplying current to maintain the rotation of the cylinder in one direction and to energize said solenoid, a device enaged by the cylinder when the cylinder enters a predetermined angular range which device operates said controls to cut the current supply to motor and to the solenoid, and again operates said controls when the cylinder leaves said angular range supplying current to reverse the motor without releasing the brake.

B. ALVIN BUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

